ESPN’s new documentary Roll Tide/War Eagle captures the insanity, er, passion of the Iron Bowl, one of college football’s greatest rivalries.
Good flick and all, but that game has been around forever. Bor-ing.
Let’s talk about the next generation of college football’s mean girls. How about these candidates to become some of college football’s new sworn enemies?
Alabama-LSU
Yes, the Crimson Tide already have their annual season-ending showdown with in-state Auburn. I’ve been told Tennessee is a rival of ‘Bama as well – something like “the third Saturday in October.”
Shouldn’t we start considering LSU one of Alabama’s true rivals, too? The two programs have risen to the top of the SEC West. Plus, there’s the Nick Saban factor.
So long as these two programs continue their winning ways, the animosity should continue to build.
Nebraska-Wisconsin
The Big Ten installed Iowa as the Cornhuskers’ prefab rival before the season, even going so far as to dub the Nebraska-Iowa game “The Heroes Game.” (Who are the ad wizards that came up with that one?)
If you prefer your rivalries a bit more organic, you NU-Wisky might be more up your alley. The Badgers gave the proud ‘Huskers a rude welcome to the Big Ten earlier this year in Madison. NU’s fans are some of the best around, but don’t think that entire state won’t be out for blood the next time these two square off.
Sounds like the start of a long-standing frienemyship.
TCU-Baylor
They’re both religious private schools. They’re both in Texas. They’re both going to be in the Big 12. Why not?
This one has the added bonus of some historical ill will. Back when the Southwest Conference folded, Baylor used its political connections to finagle a spot in the newly formed Big 12. TCU, on the other hand, was banished to the wilderness and forced to bump around from league to league for years before finally getting a seat at the big boy table.
Arkansas-Texas A&M
Speaking of the Southwest Conference, the Aggies and Razorbacks are being reunited next year after a separation going on two decades.
As has been the case with the recent round of conference defections, Arkansas fleeing the SWC for the SEC generated plenty of hard feelings back in the day. The Hogs’ beef back then wasn’t specifically with A&M, but for now, the Aggies will do. And vice versa.
With A&M losing its traditional conference rival, Texas, Arkansas looks like a good candidate to take up the slack in making Aggie jokes and poking fun at A&M’s “unique” traditions.
Oregon-Stanford
The Ducks and Cardinal are set to clash this weekend with the fate of their conference in the balance for the second year in a row. Who would’ve thought?
With both teams now taking up residence in the Pac-12 North, the intradivisional aspect could throw some fuel on a building fire between the two programs. The real question, though: Does anyone in Palo Alto actually care?
USC-Notre Dame
Yeah, yeah – the Trojans and Irish have been duking it out over the Jeweled Shillelagh since Knute Rockne was in short pants. It’s one of college football’s best rivalries already, right?
The truth is that USC has essentially owned this game as of late, with ND last year getting its first win over Southern Cal in something like 47 tries. With fiery head coach Brian Kelly now running the show in South Bend and firestarter Lane Kiffin in charge of Troy, the sparks are starting to fly once again in what had become a one-sided affair.
